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Torresian Kingfisher (Todiramphus sordidus) Alternate name(s): "Collared Kingfisher", "Mangrove Kingfisher", "Sordid Kingfisher", "White-collared Kingfisher" Size: 24-28 cm Body mass: 50-90 g (across all races)

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Torresian Kingfishers are medium-sized kingfishers. They have two white patches in front of their eyes, a greenish-brown cap and black eye stripes that connect at the nape of the neck. The front (from the throat downward to the undertail coverts) and the neck, under the black band, are all-white. The mantle is greenish-brown, tapering to turquoise (rump, uppertail and flight feathers). Male Torresian Kingfishers have more turquoise-greenish tings, while females tend to be browner. The irises of both sexes are black, the bill is dark-grey, with a light-grey base of the lower mandible. The legs and feet are grey. Juvenile Torresian Kingfishers have a buff-tinted, scalloped front and neck and near-black cap. Twitcher's tip Torresian Kingfishers are larger than the similar Sacred Kingfisher and have a greater colour contrast in their body plumage, the front being whiter and the back darker turquoise-green than a Sacred Kingfisher's.

Taxonomy, classification See Torresian Kingfisher at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information We follow the convention of some sources that have now given the 3 races found in Australia and southern New Guinea full species status as the "Torresian Kingfisher" (Todiramphus sordidus). They are no longer considered to be races of the Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris).

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The taxonomy of the Collared Kingfisher is very complex. World-wide there are about 50 races of Collared Kingfishers, ranging from the Red Sea, via southern Asia, to Australia and Polynesia. Some sources have now split the races of Collared Kingfishers found in Australia and nearby south-eastern Asia off as a separate species, the "Torresian Kingfisher" (Todiramphus sordidus). As such, the species is present in Australia and southern New Guinea. The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Torresian (Collared) Kingfisher is available HERE . 3 races of the Torresian Kingfisher are found in Australia. Race "pilbara", which is found along the Pilbara coast in WA, North of about Exmouth, up to Eighy Mile Beach, is endemic to Australia. Race "colcloughi", which populates the East coast of QLD southward of about Townsville, down to just below the border with NSW, is also endemic. Race "sordidus" populates the entire tropical North coast of Australia in between the other two races' ranges, and several offshore islands. Torresian Kingfishers have a preference for mangrove in intertidal wetlands and for coastal waters.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "sordidus" B. Hensen reports spotting a Torresian Kingfisher, race "sordidus", at East Point, Darwin, NT, in May 2013 and at Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, in August 2013 and again in July 2019. M. Eaton found the species at this location in July 2020. We first spotted Torresian Kingfishers, race "sordidus", with visual identification, during a guided tour to East Arnhemland, NT, in October 1997. Others were found at East Point, Darwin, NT, in August 2014. P. Brown found them there again in December 2017. Race "colcloughi" In May 2014 we recorded the calls of a Torresian Kingfisher, race "colcloughi", at Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP. B. Kinross reports spotting Torresian Kingfishers, race "colcloughi", regularly in intertidal wetlands at Beachmere, QLD. M. Eaton reports spotting Torresian Kingfishers, race "colcloughi", regularly in many different wetlands along the coastline of south-eastern QLD.

Photos

Race "sordidus"

ADULT

FEMALE

Frontal view rendering a direct comparison of a Torresian Kingfisher, front right, with a recently moulted - and thereby discoloured - Sacred Kingfisher, back left; the near-black head makes the Torresian Kingfisher a likely female
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Lateral view of a female Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Lateral view of a female Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Distant dorsal view of a female Torresian Kingfisher, (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, December 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of a Torresian Kingfisher; the very dark upperparts and cap, combined with residual vermiculation on the chest suggests that this may be an immature female (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Kingfisher; the vermiculation on the front indicates that this is a juvenile
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, May 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Torresian Kingfisher; note the barring on the neck (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Race "colcloughi"

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal view a Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Near-lateral view a Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view a male(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view a male(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view a male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female(?) Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2014]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Torresian Kingfisher launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, November 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher; note the indication of vermiculation on the breast and flanks and the solid matt-black cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view a juvenile Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Near-dorsal view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Dorsal view a juvenile male Torresian Kingfisher; note the tapered length of the tail feathers that are still growing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view a juvenile female Torresian Kingfisher; note the indication of vermiculation on the breast and flanks and the solid greenish-grey cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Food, Diet

Torresian Kingfishers have a preference for mud crabs.

Lateral view of a male Torresian Kingfisher with its catch, a mud crab (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2014]

Lateral view a wet-looking female Torresian Kingfisher with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, March 2018]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

colking_20140820.mp3	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
colking_20140820_6.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Contact call (with lead-up)	© MD
colking_20140820_2.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Simultaneous contact calls	© MD
colking_20140819.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© MD
colking_20140820_4.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD
colking_20140819_5.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls (Q&A)	© MD
colking_20140820_5.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls	© MD
colking_20140816_2.mp3	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls (Q&A)	© MD
colking_20140819_3.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls (Q&A)	© MD
colking_20140819_2.mp3	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Annoyed call(?)	© MD
colking_20140820_3.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Various	© MD
colking_20140819_4.m4a	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	Various	© MD
colking_20140818.mp3	sordidus (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD
colking_20140526.mp3	colcloughi (NE NSW)	Contact call	© MD

More Torresian Kingfisher sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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